Fruit and Cereal Snack Bars

Name: Fruit and Cereal Snack Bars
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 15
Ingredients: Oats 3 cups; Pistachios shelled 1.1 oz; Cranberry (dried cranberries) 0.9 oz; Honey ½ cup; White chocolate 9 oz; Sesame oil 1.6 tsp

it br es fr de

201

Calories per serving

Gluten Free
Vegetarian

Energy Kcal 201
Carbohydrates g 28.2
of which sugars g 19.4
Protein g 4.6
Fats g 7.7
of which saturated fat g 3.37
Fiber g 2.2
Cholesterol mg 4
Sodium mg 21

Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Makes: 15 pieces
Cost: Low
Note + the cooling time for the bars

PRESENTATION

In Italy, fruit and cereal snack bars have totally become a hit with parents. They really love remembering those pre-packaged snacks from the '80s and '90s. But now, there's a big shift toward healthier options. And look, people want better ingredients with a touch of homemade care. These bars are a fantastic mix—really really good—of hearty oats, crunchy pistachios, and cranberries. Super tasty, honestly. The white chocolate coating? Adds some fun, making these granola bars not just nutritious but super enjoyable for kids, too.

You'll find them everywhere—in many Italian homes, on breakfast tables, tucked into backpacks, or ready for an after-school treat. The combo of flavors and textures gives a moist and slightly crispy bite. So so hard to resist. They easily outshine those old packaged snacks, for sure.

Thing is, what makes these healthy snack bars so appealing is how they fit with the modern Italian focus on food quality. People love the flexibility. You know, swap in local nuts or dried fruits depending on the season or your mood. Some regions even add hazelnuts or dried apricots. And you get unique variations—pretty cool, right? These bars offer a nice balanced energy boost. Perfect as low calorie snacks or even energy bars for active teenagers.

And they're not just for kids. Nope. Adults grab them for a quick breakfast or with coffee for a pick-me-up. Snacking is for everyone, and these bars prove it—bringing joy to all ages. With their golden hue from oats and a tender bite from the fruit, they look as good as they taste.

This recipe brings nostalgia for traditional snacks—but with a healthier twist. Fits perfectly in today’s Italian kitchens, showing how family-friendly snacks can also be really good for you. Which is great.

INGREDIENTS
Ingredients for about 15 bars: Oats 3 cups (250 g); Pistachios 1.1 oz (30 g) - shelled; Cranberry 0.9 oz (25 g) - (dried cranberries); Honey ½ cup (150 g); White chocolate 9 oz (250 g); Sesame oil 1.6 tsp (8 g)

Preparation

How to prepare Fruit and Cereal Snack Bars

To prepare the cereal and fruit bars, start by coarsely chopping the pistachios 1. Then, place a saucepan with honey over low heat 2 and when it reaches a boil, add the oats 3.

Add the chopped pistachios 4 and dried cranberries 5. Stir 6 and knead the mixture with a wooden spoon, over low heat, for 2-3 minutes.

Prepare a small bowl with sesame oil and a brush, and cut two sheets of parchment paper. Place one of the sheets on the baking tray, then brush it with sesame oil 7. Also, brush the other sheet on one side 8. Then pour the cereal and fruit mixture onto the baking tray lined with parchment paper 9.

And cover with the other sheet, keeping the oiled side in contact with the mixture 10. Flatten the mixture, first with your hands 11, then with a rolling pin 12, until it reaches a thickness of about 0.4 inches (approximately 1 cm).

With the help of a bench scraper, smooth the edges of the mixture 13, trying to give it a square or rectangular shape that will make cutting the bars easier. Bake in a preheated convection oven at 266°F (approximately 130°C), and cook for about 35 minutes 14. Remove from the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes, then transfer your block onto a cutting board and grease a knife with the remaining sesame oil 15.

With the knife, cut your bars to your preferred size 16. From a block of about 12x8 inches (approximately 30x20 cm), we obtained 15 bars. Once you have cut your bars, let them cool. Meanwhile, break the white chocolate into pieces and place it in a double boiler 17. Melt it, stirring often 18, ensuring it doesn't exceed the indicative temperature of 113°F (approximately 45°C).

Transfer the melted chocolate to a shallow and fairly wide dish, let it cool, and when it reaches a temperature of about 82°F (approximately 28°C), carefully dip one side of the now cooled bars 19. Transfer the bars to a silicone mat, with the dipped side facing down 20, and let them cool in a cool place or in the refrigerator if the room temperature is not sufficiently low. Once the chocolate has completely solidified, you can enjoy your fruit and cereal snack bars or wrap them in parchment paper for storage until use 21.

Storage

The cereal and fruit bars can be stored in a cool, dry place, wrapped individually in parchment paper and placed inside a well-sealed tin box, for up to 7 days.

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.

Fruit and Cereal Snack Bars

PRESENTATION

How to prepare Fruit and Cereal Snack Bars

Storage

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